Head of Edward, Prince of Wales, in centre oval
’FIVE’ behind each signature

Serial Numbers

Prefix letter R over numeral
R/0 000001 to R/10 [last number unknown]

Notes :
By introducing a ’legal tender’ status for issued banknotes, there was no longer a need for
them to be redeemable in gold. The opportunity was taken with this change to modify the designs to show
King George V on the front and a bas-relief panel on the back depicting ’Commerce’. Other
innovations were the addition of a circle in the lower center displaying the watermark profile of the
Prince of Wales (later to become famous as the King who abdicated – Edward VIII).

Approximately 20,338,000 five pound notes were printed between 1933 and 1939 featuring the Riddle/Sheehan
signature combination. Cross-hatching with red and green ink on approximately half of the notes produced
a ’pink’ effect on the King's face. On the remainder, lack of cross-hatching left the
King's face white.